Wrong. The cigarette companies lied, and hid the contents of what they were selling.

Soda companies have, for decades... like anyone that sells a food/drink product... been forced to list exactly what is in their product, and break it down into categories and percent of recommended daily intake.

I've stopped buying soft drinks with HFC syrup. For whatever reason, soft drinks with HFC sit heavy in my stomach and make me feel bloated. I've noticed that soft drinks made with real sugar do not have the effect, and actually taste better. If they are going to ban anything, it should be HFC syrup.

minoridiot:I've stopped buying soft drinks with HFC syrup. For whatever reason, soft drinks with HFC sit heavy in my stomach and make me feel bloated. I've noticed that soft drinks made with real sugar do not have the effect, and actually taste better. If they are going to ban anything, it should be HFC syrup.

This^^^

Also try to drink 32oz of full sugar soda.. ya its not really possible without getting sick.

Albert:This is bullshiat, unless it's illegal, the only way government should have a say in what you can or can't drink, smoke, or eat is if they're actually paying for our healthca........oops....nevermind.

Psssssst hey buddy there is no free healthcare. Its either you buy it or get taxed for not having it... But you go ahead and believe in unicorns ok...

minoridiot:I've stopped buying soft drinks with HFC syrup. For whatever reason, soft drinks with HFC sit heavy in my stomach and make me feel bloated. I've noticed that soft drinks made with real sugar do not have the effect, and actually taste better. If they are going to ban anything, it should be HFC syrup.

attention span of a retarded fruit fly:minoridiot: I've stopped buying soft drinks with HFC syrup. For whatever reason, soft drinks with HFC sit heavy in my stomach and make me feel bloated. I've noticed that soft drinks made with real sugar do not have the effect, and actually taste better. If they are going to ban anything, it should be HFC syrup.

This^^^

Also try to drink 32oz of full sugar soda.. ya its not really possible without getting sick.

That's a 64oz challenge. Try drinking 64 oz of regular Pepsi or Coke in under 10 minutes. It can be done mind you, but most end up throwing up and a fair number that do finish end up just feeling bleh and laying down.

aerojockey:Unlike smoking, pop isn't physiologically addictive, doesn't cause your neighbors to inhale carginogens at a level thought but not demonstrated to be dangerous, and arguably isn't as lethal.

downstairs:Wrong. The cigarette companies lied, and hid the contents of what they were selling.

Soda companies have, for decades... like anyone that sells a food/drink product... been forced to list exactly what is in their product, and break it down into categories and percent of recommended daily intake.

Can't ask more than that. Beyond that, its personal choice.

Eh, maybe not quite the same, but I have no doubt that they're going to resort to lying.

When Mayor Nutter in Philadelphia proposed a soda tax a few years ago, the soda lobby claimed it would result in the elimination of thousands of jobs using some highly fuzzy math. So basically they claimed that any attempt to discourage people from drinking drinks high in sugar would be bad for the economy.

They also claimed it was a tax on the poor because the poor arguing that soda consumption makes up a larger proportion of their budget than middle class and rich people. While not a lie, that's a flat out disingenuous argument.

TheManofPA:attention span of a retarded fruit fly: minoridiot: I've stopped buying soft drinks with HFC syrup. For whatever reason, soft drinks with HFC sit heavy in my stomach and make me feel bloated. I've noticed that soft drinks made with real sugar do not have the effect, and actually taste better. If they are going to ban anything, it should be HFC syrup.

This^^^

Also try to drink 32oz of full sugar soda.. ya its not really possible without getting sick.

That's a 64oz challenge. Try drinking 64 oz of regular Pepsi or Coke in under 10 minutes. It can be done mind you, but most end up throwing up and a fair number that do finish end up just feeling bleh and laying down.

Jamdug!:WHO CARES?!? There are so many more important issues out there right now than a Big Gulp.

/The loonies have taken over the asylum.

I seem to remember the exact same sentiment about tobacco.

Well, that sheep has been sheared pretty well. Right now it's soda. In the interim, we've had bans on foie gras and trans fats as well as some talks about restricting salt. I'm imagining later, we'll be seeing some bans or restrictions on fat content, simple carbohydrates, etc.

attention span of a retarded fruit flyPsssssst hey buddy there is no free healthcare. Its either you buy it or get taxed for not having it... But you go ahead and believe in unicorns ok...---------------------------

Ohh, silly me! I said paying, meant to say.....

This is bullshiat, unless it's illegal, the only way government should have a say in what you can or can't drink, smoke, or eat is if they're actually running and controlling our healthca........oops....nevermind.

aerojockey:Unlike smoking, pop isn't physiologically addictive, doesn't cause your neighbors to inhale carginogens at a level thought but not demonstrated to be dangerous, and arguably isn't as lethal.

/you crazy NYers know it's really called pop, right?

They ran out of ways to fark with smokers. They need to find someone else to go after.

It would appear as though "soda" is the older name, by almost 300 years ("soda" is first attested in 1558; "pop" in 1812)*. Not that what came first is correct, necessarily, but there's certainly significant precedent there.

downstairs:Ok, so you can't sell soda more than 16 ounces? I want 32 ounces... guess what I'm going to do?

Have a refill?

While it is not a particularly good fight to start because Americans are rather childish about being told "no.". The reality is that lots of people drink too much soda and other sugary beverages. At home and work, I use a smaller cup, and refill it if I want more. I really don't see how this is much of an issue at the end of the day.

We get all the free beverages we want at work (soda, coffee, tea, etc). However, the cup size is limited to 16 ounces. I don't believe one person ever complained.

thornhill:downstairs: Wrong. The cigarette companies lied, and hid the contents of what they were selling.

Soda companies have, for decades... like anyone that sells a food/drink product... been forced to list exactly what is in their product, and break it down into categories and percent of recommended daily intake.

Can't ask more than that. Beyond that, its personal choice.

Eh, maybe not quite the same, but I have no doubt that they're going to resort to lying.

When Mayor Nutter in Philadelphia proposed a soda tax a few years ago, the soda lobby claimed it would result in the elimination of thousands of jobs using some highly fuzzy math. So basically they claimed that any attempt to discourage people from drinking drinks high in sugar would be bad for the economy.

They also claimed it was a tax on the poor because the poor arguing that soda consumption makes up a larger proportion of their budget than middle class and rich people. While not a lie, that's a flat out disingenuous argument.

Ummm no the soda industries attack is pretty straightforward and true. - Do you really want the govt to tell you what you can and cant drink?

Harry_Seldon:While it is not a particularly good fight to start because Americans are rather childish about being told "no."

What some call childish, others call jealousy guarding of liberties.

The reality is that lots of people drink too much soda and other sugary beverages.

Well, that's like your opinion man.

We get all the free beverages we want at work (soda, coffee, tea, etc). However, the cup size is limited to 16 ounces. I don't believe one person ever complained.

Not quite relevant seeing as how your beverage is free. What if you had to pay and didn't get free refills?

One very possible next step in all of this is to ban free refills in order to prevent people from "circumventing" the ban on large containers. The words "skirt" and "loophole" will be tossed around liberally when describing how merchants are operating and why this new regulation is needed. This kind of incrementalism only happens constantly.

downstairs:Wrong. The cigarette companies lied, and hid the contents of what they were selling.

Soda companies have, for decades... like anyone that sells a food/drink product... been forced to list exactly what is in their product, and break it down into categories and percent of recommended daily intake.

Digitalstrange:Do you really want the govt to tell you what you can and cant drink?

It seems to be the city government is trying to tell you -how much- you can drink, and even then you can purchase larger quantities at the grocery store. The state government already has similar laws about how much alcohol you can drink. If I remember correctly you can't be drunk in public and a bar can get in trouble for serving you if you are over the limit.

downstairs:Ok, so you can't sell soda more than 16 ounces? I want 32 ounces... guess what I'm going to do?

Well, obviously fatties like you will stop at nothing to get their fix of sugar water (or HFCS Water, whatever), but the fact of the matter is most normal human beings won't get two sodas. They'll buy one and they'll be happy with it.

It's more psychological than physiological. If we perceive something to be a single serving container, we will usually stop at one. A few years ago, Dannon reduced the size of their yogurt containers, from 8 oz to 6. There was a small drop off at first, but people went back to buying them.

After drinking sodas with real sugar in them, I noticed that HFCS sodas taste kind of slimy. Almost as if there's a film lining my mouth afterwards. Unfortunately, sodas with real sugar on them cause my teeth to become very sensitive. So it looks like I can't win either way.

I for one, welcome our newly diabetic, morbidly obese sweating fellow subway passengers on the hottest month of the year -- thanks to beverage makers who can't seem to remove that expensive sugar/corn syrup from their captive audience's blood stream. At least the companies are picking up the tab for the astronomical medical expenses of their marketing victims. Too bad the Manhattan Cocaine Dealers and teh friendly NY Drug Cartel didn't get on the band wagon, too. Along with the WV Gun Dealers Sellers Assoc.

The government should have no say in what size a soda (or any product) a consumer can buy. I would, however, be all for a huge farking tax on any food containing high fructose corn syrup. It can be justified using the same logic used to justify cigarette taxes.

tortilla burger:After drinking sodas with real sugar in them, I noticed that HFCS sodas taste kind of slimy. Almost as if there's a film lining my mouth afterwards. Unfortunately, sodas with real sugar on them cause my teeth to become very sensitive. So it looks like I can't win either way.

When I drink a real sugar cola I'm quite satisfied afterwards. With an HFCS drink, I want another. It's like crack.

pedrop357:Harry_Seldon: While it is not a particularly good fight to start because Americans are rather childish about being told "no."

What some call childish, others call jealousy guarding of liberties.

The reality is that lots of people drink too much soda and other sugary beverages.

Well, that's like your opinion man.

We get all the free beverages we want at work (soda, coffee, tea, etc). However, the cup size is limited to 16 ounces. I don't believe one person ever complained.

Not quite relevant seeing as how your beverage is free. What if you had to pay and didn't get free refills?

One very possible next step in all of this is to ban free refills in order to prevent people from "circumventing" the ban on large containers. The words "skirt" and "loophole" will be tossed around liberally when describing how merchants are operating and why this new regulation is needed. This kind of incrementalism only happens constantly.

Fundamentally, liberty goes along with personally responsibility. You have the liberty to largely consume as much manufactured food products as you can afford; but you also have a responsibility to your community to care for your personal health. Freedom and personal responsibility go together. That is why Americans can be so childish. They want unlimited liberty to do as they please, but also want no personal responsibility for their actions, especially where those actions have long term potential consequences.

OgreMagi:The government should have no say in what size a soda (or any product) a consumer can buy. I would, however, be all for a huge farking tax on any food containing high fructose corn syrup. It can be justified using the same logic used to justify cigarette taxes.

Harry_Seldon:Fundamentally, liberty goes along with personally responsibility. You have the liberty to largely consume as much manufactured food products as you can afford; but you also have a responsibility to your community to care for your personal health. Freedom and personal responsibility go together. That is why Americans can be so childish. They want unlimited liberty to do as they please, but also want no personal responsibility for their actions, especially where those actions have long term potential consequences.

There is no responsibility to the community to care for one's health. That is the very opposite of personal responsibility. Nice try though.

Interestingly enough, it's people like you who try to subvert and interfere with personal responsibility wherever it occurs.

A lot of these "problems" will work themselves out when the nanny staters among us stop trying to shield people from the natural consequences of their actions.

From what I've read diet sodas are exempt, right? Maybe this will encourage Coke/Pepsi to try out some more inventive diet soda flavors. I miss diet coke with lemon, and diet dr pepper berries and cream.